Starting on flugel instead of trumpet?

[JayinTO]

Hi All,

First post. I have had a lifelong love of music but only recently decided, at 40+, to do something about learning to play an instrument. I joined a local concert band for mature adults with no musical experience and started playing bass clarinet, which I love. I have since, however, been smitten with the flugelhorn after seeing Guido Basso in a small live performance.

I have rented a Yamaha YFH-631G, printed off a fingering chart and have spent a week or so playing around with trying to teach myself some basics. My question is whether learning flugel first will be detrimental to learning trumpet if I decide to try that in the future.

I know I am most likely doing too much at the same time, but I just feel like I have a lot of wasted time to make up for and I'm trying to run instead of walking.

Thanks,

Jason

[TKSop]

[shofarguy]

Go have fun! You're gong to love it!

Take a few lessons from a carefully chosen player/teacher. I relearned to play trumpet by learning to play flugelhorn and I got better at both. Now, I don't play my trumpet much, because I really like the calm, luscious voice of my flugelhorn.

It's kind of like my 30 year love affair with my favorite woman. I don't have much use for the Oscar's red carpet. I prefer the quiet response I get from my wife.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[Don Herman rev2]

Choice of teacher, starting with the choice to choose a teacher, is far more important than choice of horn.
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"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

[kehaulani]

I don't see itthat the point that if you want to play in a typical band, you're going to need to play trumpet. If it's a flexible band, maybe they'll tolerate cornet in the section but, typically, trumpet and definitely not flugel.

That's not to say that you should go with your heart, but if you do, be preparedto use it more as a soloist.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[cheiden]

You've got a good horn. Depending on how you acquired it, it wouldn't hurt to get a pro player or good tech to make sure it's in good working order.

Hard to go wrong with a stock Yamaha mouthpiece somewhere in the 11F4 to 14F4 size range.

Taking at least one or two lessons with a good teacher stands to speed you on your way and will prevent you from ingraining bad habits which can take a lifetime to undo.

Transitioning to trumpet will take a little time but I can't imagine it'd be too hard.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[RandyTX]

Maybe you can find a brass band, they carry a flugel, without any 'shame' for not being a noisy, brash trumpet.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

[JayinTO]

Thanks for all the replies. A teacher is definitely something that will be one of my next steps.

I will talk to the band director too to see about using the flugel in next year's group. I don't mind at all if I end up playing it only for my own enjoyment but would like to use it in the band next season if possible. If not, would learning both trumpet and flugel simultaneously hamper progress on one or the other?

I do have access to a trumpet but would have to get it in working order as it is my Dad's old horn and has been sitting unplayed for ages.

[cheiden]

I would discourage from trying to learn both at the same time. An embouchure in the early stages of development really benefits from consistency.

Note that some student model flugels like the Yamaha 2000-series do play more similar to a trumpet but the pro model you have does play quite differently.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[Steve A]

[JayinTO]

[windandsong]

Play the horn you love, make the sound you want to here. You can also play very quietly on a flugel and develop that soft strength you'll need when playing on a more demanding horn.

G
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Bach 180/37
#7 pipe